49ers Clips – February 8, 2017 Local Media How Much Credit Does Kyle Shanahan Deserve for Matt Ryan's MVP Season? By Joe Fann, 49ers.com http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/How-Much-Credit-Does-Kyle-Shanahan-Deserve-for-Matt-Ryans- MVP-Season/2f766d00-b7bd-47c0-92a1-0c88f17f30c5 Source: Kaepernick has not decided whether to opt out of contract By Kevin Lynch, SFGate.com http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2017/02/07/source-kaepernick-has-not-decided-whether-to-opt-out/ 49ers GM Lynch discusses ‘huge emphasis’ on QBs By Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle http://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/article/49ers-GM-Lynch-discusses-huge-emphasis-on-10916407.php 49ers John Lynch on QB crisis: ‘We’re looking at every scenario’ By Cam Inman, San Jose Mercury News http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/02/07/49ers-john-lynch-on-qb-crisis-were-looking-at-every-scenario/ 49ers part ways with strength and conditioning staff By Matt Kawahara, Sacramento Bee http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/article131365699.html 49ERS RELEASE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING STAFF By Matt Maiocco, CSNBayArea.com http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/49ers-release-strength-and-conditioning-staff With coach and GM on board, Niners' focus turns to quarterback By Nick Wagoner, ESPN.com http://www.espn.com/blog/san-francisco-49ers/post/_/id/23280/with-coach-and-gm-on-board-niners- focus-turns-to-quarterback 2017 offseason predictions for all 32 NFL teams By Nick Wagoner, ESPN.com http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page/32for32x170207/offseason-predictions-all-32-nfl-teams-2017 McShay's 2017 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 By Todd McShay, ESPN.com http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2017/insider/story/_/id/18632945/todd-mcshay-2017-nfl-mock-draft-20 John Lynch declines to set timeline for construction of new offense By Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk.com http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/02/07/john-lynch-declines-to-set-timeline-for-construction-of- new-offense/ 49ers will have all new strength and conditioning staff By Zac Jackson, ProFootballTalk.com http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/02/07/49ers-will-have-all-new-strength-and-conditioning-staff/ National Media What’s next for Seahawks? Here are some key off-season dates to remember By Bob Condotta, The Seattle Times http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/whats-next-for-seahawks-here-are-some-key-off-season- dates-to-remember/ Rams pursuing Falcons' Matt LaFleur as offensive coordinator as Atlanta hires Sarkisian By Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-lafleur-sarkisian-20170207-story.html Browns release Josh McCown and Tramon Williams; Will RG3 be next? By Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland Plain Dealer http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2017/02/browns_released_josh_mccown_an.html#incart_rive r_index Eagles approach LT Jason Peters about pay cut By Tim McManus, ESPN.com http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/230893/eagles-approach-lt-jason-peters-about-pay-cut Packers release RB James Starks By Rob Demovsky, ESPN.com http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18640746/green-bay-packers-release-rb-james-starks Local Clips – Full Version How Much Credit Does Kyle Shanahan Deserve for Matt Ryan's MVP Season? By Joe Fann, 49ers.com Let’s be clear, Matt Ryan has always been a talented NFL quarterback, and he's no strangers to huge statistical seasons. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback recorded five 4000-yard seasons and made three Pro Bowls prior to 2016. But this year, Ryan’s numbers were otherworldly. So while this article isn’t to say that Kyle Shanahan created Ryan, it is a fair argument that the San Francisco 49ers new head coach helped the signal-caller reach his MVP potential. The quarterback threw for 4,944 yards and a staggering 38 touchdowns, both career-highs. Ryan’s 9.3 yards per attempt and 117.1 quarterback rating both led the NFL. The Falcons offense (playoffs included) finished as the third-ranked scoring unit of all-time with 648 total points (the 2013 Denver Broncos own the NFL record with 664 points). So just how much credit does Shanahan deserve in Ryan’s 2016 campaign? Quite a bit, says ESPN NFL insider Field Yates. “He helped reinvigorate the career of Matt Ryan and led him to an MVP this season,” Yates said. “He certainly catapulted his play to a new level. “When you have an offensive system that is so multiple – 13 players caught a touchdown for the Falcons during the regular season, the most in league history – that right there speaks to a system that puts players in a position to succeed.” Interceptions (red-zone turnovers specifically) was one area in particular where Ryan improved the most during his second season working with Shanahan. From 2012-15, Ryan threw at least 14 picks in each year. Many of those miscues came inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. In 2016, Ryan threw just seven interceptions, a new career-low. “Those were essentially a thing of the past in 2016,” Yates said. “So the areas that you say, ‘Where did Kyle Shanahan help Matt Ryan specifically?’ One of them was decision-making, because that was one area he was much better in this season compared to the season before.” Ryan himself was very complimentary of Shanahan throughout Atlanta’s recent postseason run all the way to Super Bowl LI. “I think Kyle has pushed me to become a better player,” Ryan told the MMQB back in January. “He’s pushed me to expand my game, to do some things different than I’d been doing for a few years. He’s pushed me to throw more on the run, and I think that’s helped us as an offense. He’s helped our entire offense become better players.” Shanahan’s role in Atlanta’s historic 2016 season earned him the NFL’s Assistant Coach of the Year award. It was only a metter of time before the talented offensive mind landed his first job as a head coach. Yates went as far as to say it was a “coup” for the 49ers to land Shanahan with so many other teams interested. “Kyle Shanahan was not one of the most coveted coaching candidates by accident,” Yates said. “Teams understood exactly what he’s done and why he’s such a good fit for teams looking to rejuvenate their offensive system.” -------------------------------------------------------------- Source: Kaepernick has not decided whether to opt out of contract By Kevin Lynch, SFGate.com Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has yet to determine whether he will opt of his contract, despite a story from ESPN that he will do so. A source close to Kaepernick said no decision has been made, and it really makes no sense to make a decision now before Kaepernick talks to new head coach Kyle Shanahan and new general manager John Lynch. Kaepernick told sfgate.com at the end of last year that he was frustrated by an NFL media story in December saying he would opt out. “I would like to talk to the person who said that,” Kaepernick said. Additionally, the source close to Kaepernick said he continues to be frustrated by stories saying he will opt out, because he doesn’t want the 49ers believing he wants to leave. Kaepernick said at the end of last season that he feels greatly supported by his teammates and the fans. Keapernick won the Len Eshmont honor last year, which is voted on by the players to the teammate who best exemplifies courageous and inspirational play. Kaepernick also felt most 49ers fans understood his decision to kneel for national anthem in protest of violence, racism and unequal treatment of people of color. “(The support) is something I appreciate and it’s not just football,” Kaepernick told sfgate.com. “They are having conversations and spreading that knowledge and spreading that awareness. Ultimately that creates change. Fans didn’t give up on me or the team. Spreading the word, talking, interacting is something that goes unnoticed, but it’s something I really appreciate.” Kaepernick also feels his relationship with the team has never been better and doesn’t want the team to think he wants to leave. With that said, the 49ers could terminate his deal or ask him to opt out, if they don’t want to retain him. Also, Kaepernick could opt out if another team offers him a better deal and the promise of a starting job. However, none of those things have materialized. Consequently, talk of opting out is premature according to the source. -------------------------------------------------------------- 49ers GM Lynch discusses ‘huge emphasis’ on QBs By Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle Former 49ers general manager Trent Baalke, who didn’t use a top-200 pick on a quarterback in his final five drafts, didn’t seem to have a full appreciation for the most important position in the NFL. It doesn’t sound as if his replacement will have that problem. John Lynch, an ex-safety who began his career at Stanford as a quarterback, said he recognized during his decorated, 15-year NFL career how an elite signal-caller can dominate games. “In my mind,” Lynch said Tuesday on KNBR, “I think I knew, but I couldn’t really admit to myself because it would almost be surrender: That when you go against a great one, you’re helpless.” Lynch went on to cite a stat that illustrates the point: Fourteen of the past 16 AFC champions have counted Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Ben Roethlisberger as their quarterback. “That just speaks to how important that position is,” he said.